§ Mr. Altonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the circumstances in which subsistence may be claimed by local councillors; and what is an approved duty allowable for a claim by a member of a local authority.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe circumstances under which a councillor may claim a subsistence allowance are set out in section 174 of the Local Government Act 1972. The scope of the term "approved duty" is outlined in section 177(2) of that Act, but the Government take the view that the interpretation of the statute is for individual local authorities. The judgment as to the correctness of that 527W interpretation in a particular case is in the first instance a matter for the independent auditor appointed by the Audit Commission and ultimately one for the courts.